Born and raised on a small farm in Austin, Texas, Ericka's curiosity about the world began at a very young age. Blessed with an incredibly generous scholarship, Ericka left the comforts of her hometown to pursue her undergraduate degree on the East Coast. She attended Boston University where she double majored in Japanese & Linguistics. Her experience in Boston was the catalyst for her wanderlust, taste for adventure, and the first stop of many on her journey to self-love.

Armed with linguistic aptitude, her teeny weeny afro, and determination to beast through this new phase of life, Ericka set her sights on traveling the world. After launching her career with a major fashion company in New York City, she eventually made her way to Tokyo, Japan. Inspired and stimulated by her experiences in Japan, Ericka was more determined to live her life without self-comprise and to embrace her individuality. A natural woman with a righteous fro, she was on a quest for accessories for earrings that positively accentuated her look. Bored with her options, Ericka decided to put her latent crochet ability and Japan-inspired appreciation for the uncanny to good use. She had found an avenue for her creative energy. Dope Crochet was born.